Origin: 1300–50; Middle English atei(g)nen < Anglo-French, Old French ateign- (stem of ateindre) < Vulgar Latin *attangere (for Latin attingere), equivalent to Latin at-at- + tangere to touch
c.1300, "to succeed in reaching," from stem of O.Fr. ataindre (11c., Mod.Fr. atteindre) "to come up to, reach, attain, endeavor, strive," from V.L. *adtangere, from L. attingere "to touch, to arrive at," from ad- "to" + tangere "to touch" (see tangent).